National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
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NPS Form 10-900 0MB No. 1024-0018 (Rev. 8-86) RECEIVED United States Department of the Interior ce: National Park Service National Register of Historic Places NATIONAL Registration Form REGISTER This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations of eligibility for individual properties or districts. See instructions in Guidelines for Completing National Register Forms (National Register Bulletin 16). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the requested information. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, styles, materials, and areas of significance, enter only the categories and subcategories listed in the instructions. For additional space use continuation sheets (Form 10-900a). Type all entries. 1 . Name of Property historic name GTLMAN r MAJOR JOHN, HOUSE other names/site number ODTORNE, DEACON THOMAS 2. Location street & number 2S CASS STREET N/A LJ not for publication city, town EXETER N/A l_Jvicinity State NKW HAMPSHTRE code NH county ROCKINGHAM code NH015 zip code 03833 3. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property private [~xl building(s) Contributing Noncontributing public-local I I district 3 0 buildings public-State EH site 0 0 sites I I public-Federal I I structure 0 structures I I object 0 objects 0 Total Name of related multiple property listing: Number of contributing resources previously N/A____________________ listed in the National Register _Q_____ 4. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this nomination LJ request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinjoX Ppperty H meets EH does not meet the National Register criteria. LJ See continuation sheet. _ 28> 1988 Signature^ certifying official Date New Hampshire State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property LJ meets EH does not meet the National Register criteria. EH See continuation sheet. Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 5. National Park Service Certification I, hereby, certify that this property is: 0 entered in the National Register. I I See continuation sheet. EH determined eligible for the National Register. I I See continuation sheet. EH determined not eligible for the National Register. EH removed from the National Register. EH other, (explain:) ___________ Signature of the Keeper Date of Action 6. Function or Use Historic Functions (enter categories from instructions) Current Functions (enter categories from instructions) DOMESTIC/sinale dwelling__________ DOMESTIC/single dwelling______ 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials (enter categories from instructions) (enter categories from instructions) foundation STONE__________ COLONIAL/Georgian_________________ walls ______WQOD/weather board roof _______ASPHALT other ____________ Describe present and historic physical appearance. The Major John Gilmn House is a significant example of colonial period residential architecture in the Georgian style, utilizing the gambrel roof form. It was built c. 1737 by Colonel John Gilman, who willed it to his son John, in 1738.1 The 5x3 bay main block measures a full 40 x 30 feet but gives the appearance of being thinner due to the extreme height of the gambrel roof. The unusual fenestration also adds to its feeling of verticality as the windows are exceptionally narrow. The symmetrical facade is graced by a well-proportioned classical doorway, topped with a full pediment. The house is significant for its high degree of integrity, and although successive layers of ownership have left their mark, the original mid-18th century elegance clearly dominates its character. A careful restoration and modernization, c. 1965, left the house in excellent contemporary condition. Additions include an ell, c. 1780, that extends from the southwest corner, and another single cell ell that projects from the northeast corner and is connected to a large li story barn by a shed roofed enclosed space. Two other structures document the evolution of the site; a li story carriage barn, c. 1880, and a small spring house, c. 1880. The 2\ story main block is supported by a rubble foundation which divides into two distinct parts. The north half of the structure is over a crawl space, and the chimney here is supported by a large granite boulder and rubble. The south side, remodeled c. 1780, has a dug basement with brick walls and mortared rubble extending under the ell. The chimney stack in this section is supported by a high brick arch. The northern chimney is smaller, square with one corbelled course and painted white, and the southern chimney which was rebuilt above the roof, c. 1979, is substantially larger. The entire structure is sheathed in clapboard. The gambrel roof is sheathed in asphalt. In addition to its proportions, the house is architecturally distinguished by its use of ornament, typical of that found in the best houses of the mid-1700s. Its main entry features a six-panel door with raised panels and ovolo molding. This door was recreated, c. 1965; the original door was moved and is currently hanging on th east elevation of the barn, the door is topped by a five-paned transom with "bull's eye" glass. This doorway was a grontpiece composed of elegantly fluted pilasters which support a full classical pediment. The windows are unusual for their particularly tall, narrow proportion, which is accentuated by the unusual sash which is 4/4 configuration with narrow echious profile muntins. (This sash is clearly a Greek Revival, c. 1830 replacement. It is unique in the town.) The windows have molded surrounds and are capped with a projecting crown molding. The second story window caps jog out over the cornice at the eave. The eave lines on both the lateral and raking eaves project to allow a full cornice. HSee continuation sheet 8. Statement of Significance Certifying official has considered the significance of this property in relation to other properties: I I nationally I I statewide ET1 locally Applicable National Register Criteria I JA I |B l~3c I ID Criteria Considerations (Exceptions) I JA I IB | |c I ID I IE I IF I |G Areas of Significance (enter categories from instructions) Period of Significance Significant Dates 1737 - 1880 ________ 1738, 1769 Cultural Affiliation N/A Significant Person Architect/Builder N/A____________________________ _____UNKNOWN State significance of property, and justify criteria, criteria considerations, and areas and periods of significance noted above. The Major John Oilman House in Exeter, New Hampshire, is a handsome colonial residence in the Georgian style which still retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association, it was built c. 1737 by Colonel John Gilman, who willed it to his son John, in 1738.1 This property is significant under National Register Criteria C for its contribution as the most intact example of the gambrel roof form, Georgian house surviving in the Town of Exeter, New Hampshire. Both the interior and exterior retain a high degree of integrity from the 18th and 19th centuries. Although the name of the joiner responsible for the quality of the craftsmanship employed in the construction and ornamentation of this house is not known, the high level of skill required for its execution is evident. The quality of its detail stands with some of the finest Georgian houses in the Piscataqua region. Historic Context The Town of Exeter, New Hampshire was settled in the early 17th century on the Squamscott River, a tidal estuary of the Great Bay. It was originally part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and later one the of first four towns of Hampshire. It prospered throughout the 17th and 18th centuries as a lumbering and ship building center, exporting lumber via the Squamscott River to Portsmouth and from there, points in Europe. As the town grew and prospered, fashionable residences were constructed in the Georgian style, but only three examples of the gambrel roof form survive. Besides the Major John Gilman House, these are the Nathaniel Gilman House at 46 Front Street, c. 1735, which was substantially remodeled in the 1960s by Phillips Exeter Academy;2 and the Judge Jeremiah Smith House, c. 1750, at 77 Park Street. This house is of a scale and grandeur similar to some of the great houses in Portsmouth, however, it has been substantially modernized and most recently converted to condominiums so that its integrity, while not ruined, has been seriously compromised. See continuation sheet 9. Major Bibliographical References Ames, Constance Le Neve Gilman, The Story of the Gilmans and a Gilman Genealogy of the Descendants of Edward Gilman of Hingham, England 1550-1950. Shields Ranier Printing Company, Yakima, Washington, 1950. Bell, Charles H., History of Exeter. J.E. Farweil & Co. Boston: 1888. |x|See continuation sheet Previous documentation on file (NFS): I I preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) Primary location of additional data: has been requested I I State historic preservation office I I previously listed in the National Register I I Other State agency I I previously determined eligible by the National Register I I Federal agency d] designated a National Historic Landmark I I Local government I I recorded by Historic American Buildings I I University Survey # __________________________ r*1 other I I recorded by Historic American Engineering Specify repository: Record #___________ Exeter Historical Society 10. Geographical Data Acreage of property 1.18 acres References |3|f,0|6 4.01 |4 ,7 16 ,0 |7 ,0 Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing cl . I Mi ., j_L continuation sheet Verbal Boundary Description The Major John Gilman House lies on the parcel designated as Map #09-09, Block #02, Parcel #003 in the tax records in the town of Exeter, New Hampshire.